Module 3: Taylor Series

Dr. T. Phaneendra

January 4, 2019

1 Taylor’s Series
Let f ( z) be analytic in a domain D ⊂ C and z0 ∈ D . Then f can be represented
by a power series

∞
a n ( z − z0 )n = a 0 + a 1 ( z − z0 ) + a 2 ( z − z0 )2 + · · · ,
P
f ( z) = (1.1)
n=0

where the coefficients a0n s are given by

f (n) (z0 )
an = n! , n = 1, 2, 3, ..., (1.2)

taken counterclockwise around any closed curve C in D enclosing z0 .

Remark 1.1. If there exists a positive integer R such that (1.1) converges
for all z with | z − z0 | < R , then R is its radius of convergence and the circle
| z − z0 | = R is its circle of convergence. We write R = ∞ if (1.1) converges for
all z, and R = 0 if it converges only at the center z0 .
f (n) (2) e2
Example 1.1. Let f ( z) = e z for all z ∈ C and z0 = 2. Then a n = n! = n! for
all n = 1, 2, .... Therefore, its Taylor series about z0 = 2 is given by

∞ ∞
f ( z) = e z = a n ( z − 2)n = e2 1
· ( z − 2)n ·
P P
n! (1.3)
n=0 n=0

1
CVPDE (MAT3003) Module 3

About z0 = 0, we have

∞ ∞
zn
f ( z) = e z = an zn =
P P
n! · (1.4)
n=0 n=0

Example 1.2. Let f ( z) = sin z for all z ∈ C. Then f (0) = sin 0 = 0, and

f 0 ( z) = cos z, f 0 (0) = cos 0 = 1;

Therefore, its Taylor series about z = 0 is given by

∞ ∞
f (n) (z0 ) (−1)m−1
· zn = · z2m−1 ·
P P
f ( z) = sin z = n! (2m−1)! (1.5)
n=0 m=1

z2n 1
Example 1.3. We see that f ( z) = z cosh z2 = z · z2n+1 is
P∞ P∞
n=0 (2n)! = n=0 (2n)!
a Taylor series about the origin
1
Example 1.4. To find a Taylor series of f ( z) = (z−1)(z +2) about z = 0, we split
f into partial fractions and apply the binomial expansion. Now

1 1
£ 1 1
¤ 1h −1 1
¡ ¢ i
z −1
f ( z) = (z−1)(z +2)
= 3 z−1 − z+2 = 3 −(1 − z ) − 2 1 + 2
· ¸
∞ ∞ n ∞ n
n+1
o
= 31 − z n − 12 (−1)n u3 = 13 −1 + − 12 zn
P P ¡ ¢ P ¡ ¢
n=0 n=0 n=0

The first series converges on the region S 1 : | z| < 1, while the second series
converges on the region | z/2| < 1 or S 2 : | z| < 2. Therefore, the region of
convergence of f ( z) is S 1 ∩ S 2 : | z| < 1, which contains z = 0.

Dr. T. Phaneendra 2 511, A10, SJT

1
Exercise 1.1. Expand (z+2)2 (z−3)
in Taylor series about the origin. What is
the region of validity?
1
Exercise 1.2. Expand (z2 +1)(z−1)
in Taylor series about the origin. What is
the region of validity?
1
Exercise 1.3. Expand f ( x) = z2 + z+1
in Taylor series about the origin.
1
Example 1.5. To find a Taylor series of f ( z) = (z−1)(z −3)
about z = 4, we write
u = z − 4 or z = u + 4 in this, and split f into partial fractions and then apply
the binomial expansion. Now,

1 1
£ 1 1
¤ 1h −1 1
¡ ¢ i
u −1
f ( z) = (u+3)(u +1)
= 2 u+1 − u+3 = 2 (1 + u ) − 3 1 + 3
· ¸
∞ ∞ ¡ ¢n ∞ n o
= 21 (−1)n u n − 13 (−1)n u3 = 12 1 − 3n1+1 (−1)n u n
P P P
n=0 n=0 n=0

The first series converges on the region S 1 : | u| < 1, while the second series
converges on the region | u/3| < 1 or S 2 : | u| < 3. Therefore, the region of
convergence of f ( z) is S 1 ∩ S 2 : | u| < 1, which contains u = 0. In other words,
the region of validity is | z − 4| < 1, which is the interior of the circle with
centre at 4 and radius 1
1
Exercise 1.4. Expand (z2 +1)(z−1)
in Taylor series about the origin. What is
the region of validity? Find the Taylor series about the given point for the
following functions, and mention the region of validity in each case:

1 1
( a) f ( z) = (z−3)(z +2)2
at z = −1 ( b) f ( z) = z2
at z = i
2
z +3z z−1
( c) f ( z) = 1− z2
at z = 2 (d ) f ( z) = z2
at z = 1
1 1
( e) f ( z) = z2 −1
at z = i (f ) f ( z) = (z+1)2
at z = − i

Exercise 1.5. Expand f ( z) = cos z in ascending powers of π/2

Dr. T. Phaneendra 3 511, A10, SJT